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Constable Steven Irvine, who is a wildlife crime officer, said: "These incidents can be traumatic for members of the public who find the animals and we are committed to taking action against people committing wildlife crimes.

"Birds are protected species so unless you are working under a general license, for example to carry out pest control measures, it is illegal to kill wild birds. It is possible these animals have been killed under license however they have not been disposed appropriately and we are keen to establish the full circumstances.

"There are different licensing requirements for possessing an air weapon and a firearm so this is a serious matter. The disregard shown to these animals and the public is not acceptable.

"We will continue to work with our partners including the SSPCA and Midlothian Council and would encourage anyone who has any information about these incidents to please contact us. Similarly if you have any information about people committing wildlife crime in your area, contact us."

Reports of the incident had surfaced on social media in recent days, with sickening images showing the bags in the woods, with some users commenting that gas canisters used for air guns had also been found in the area, however this was not confirmed by the police.

Those with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 1439 of 21 April 2020.